Thicker than Water
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I'd rather live upside-down in a toilet bowl".
***
Thanks again to my reviewers. I appologise for suggesting that the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger. I originally had ended that chap on a cliffhanger, but changed it at the last minute, not thinking to look at the ending piece. Yup, i do daft things like that...
***
Chapter 6 - Stepping down and standing up.
***
Lance had been staring at his cooking bacon for most of the morning, glancing up now and again as Sidney bustled around the house. Tally was due to arrive with Draco at any minute, and Sidney looked ready to puke with nervousness. Fred gave a sneeze as a bit of fur flittered around his face.
"Sidney, you're moulting", he pointed out, "i mean, there's only so much anti-histamines can do, so will ya calm down a bit?".
Sidney paused and glanced at Fred.
"Yeah..sorry Freddy", she said, distractedly, then went back to pacing, "i know she can do the job..i just hope the others take it well. Normally no one steps down unless they are dying".
Wanda walked sleepily into the kitchen, Ebony on her shoulder. She slumped down at the table.
"Good morning Wanda", said Lance..already knowning her response.
"Ugh".
Wanda was not a morning person. Lance chuckled and pushed a coffie mug over to her, which she started at for a bit before drinking it. Ebony hopped off her shoulder and mewed at Sidney.
"No, i am perfectly calm", said Sidney, "i am the model of calmness. Look, this is me, being calm".
Ebony gave another meow. Sidney looked at her shaking hands.
"Okay, so i'm a little nervous", she said.
"Mew".
"Oh, what do you know?!".
Todd hopped into the room with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning everyone", he said, Todd, unlike most of his house-mates, was a morning person, something that irritated the non-morning people no end.
"Ugh", replied Wanda.
Todd laughed giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Awww, cheer up my Crimson Cutie", he said.
Lance blinked and eye towards Sidney, who flinched slightly but said nothing or showed any other sign of discomfort. Ebony on the other hand gave her an accusing growl, which Sidney silenced with a growl of her own. Ebony did a cat-version of a sneer and stalked away to his food bowl, looking at it and giving a meow.
"He says it's empty", translated Sidney.
"Oh, sorry Ebony", said Wanda, getting up and putting some cat-chow in the bowl, Ebony looked at it, then at Sidney. He mewed again.
"What now?", said Lance irritated as he took out his bacon from under the grill.
"He says he'll have what Lance is having", said Sidney with a chuckle.
Lance looked at Ebony.
"You are NOT having my bacon!", he said, "you're a cat, you eat cat-chow!".
Ebony gave a short sharp meow, before washing his paw. Lance looked up at Sidney.
"What did he just call me?".
"You...don't wanna know", said Sidney with a chuckle, "belive me on that one".
Lance crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, fighting away Fred, Wanda and Todd as they attempted to take his bacon. He smiled, finally sticking a fork into a piece and bringing it to his mouth It was at that moment a gust of wind sweapt through the house, and Lance found himself staring at an empty fork.
"PIETRO!", he snarled, "give me back my breakfast!".
The gust of wind stopped, forming itself as Pietro, who swallowed.
"Too late, it's gone", he said cheerfully, then yelped as the house began to shake.
"Knock it off!", snapped Wanda, "you're fighting over a piece of bacon for crying out loud!".
"Yeah Lance, it's only food", said Pietro, before holding up his hand, "before you say anything Freddy, yes i know food is important, but not right now. I've got neeeeeewwws".
"What, Summers finally remove the stick that's up his...", started Lance, only to be swatted on the head by Sidney.
"Nope", said Pietro smugly, "Tally and Draco are on their way over. Saw them on my morning run".
"Really?", said Sidney, perking up, "then i'd better get ready".
*******
A few hours later found Tally stood in front of Sidney outside the Brotherhood house. Draco stood close by, as the Brotherhood and a few of the X-Men watched with intrest. Sidney smiled at a very nervous Tally before clearing her throat.
"I, Sidney Cagney from this day forward do step down as Matriach of Avalon", she said.
She reached around her neck, taking of the pendant that had been there for what seemed like an eternity. She looked at it before placing it over Tally's head, letting it drop around the Scottish girl's neck.
"So, as my final act of duty, i appoint Tally McGregor as the new Matriach, may she lead them well".
She glanced at the others, watching intently.
"We're done now", she said.
Everyone gave the blushing Tally a cheer and applause. Sidney gave her a smile.
"I hope i'm up for the job", said Tally.
"I KNOW you are", said Sidney, giving her a pat on the shoulder, "you'll do a better job than i did, i can tell you that".
Tally nodded, glancing over as Draco gave her a bow. She blinked, realising something.
"Och aye, she'd have killed me if i forgot", she said to herself, running over to her backpack and rummaging around in it, pulling out a letter, and a dried white heather.
She walked over to where the X-Men were standing, glancing at the New Recruits.
"Okay", she said, "i havenae a clue who you lot are, so ye will have te help me oout here. Which one of ye's Sam Guthrie?".
Sam blinked, putting up a hand, loooking more than a little confused.
"Uhh...a'h am?", he tried.
"Good", said Tally, handing him the letter and heather, "these are for ye".
Sam looked at them confused, then looked at Sidney who chuckled.
"Oh yeah", she said, "i forgot about that. See you're a better leader than me already Tally".
Sam's confusion spread even more.
"They're from Rahne", said Tally with a smile, "she dunnae live with us, but she pops aroound te se us from time te time. As soon as she found oout i was coming over here, she wanted me te send ye these. The heather's a good luck charm....she misses ye".
"Oh", said Sam, turning an interesting shade of pink, before muttering quietly, "a'h miss her too".
"Aye, i guessed", said Tally, "i'll tell her for ye. Right i'm gunnae stretch me legs an' think aboout mae new responsibilites before we go home, okay, Draco?".
"Of course, m'lady", said Draco, watching Tally walk off.
Sidney meanwhile grinned at Rogue.
"You ready?", she said.
Rogue nodded.
"A'h guess", she said, "Kitty an' Bobby are coming with you me an' Kurt".
"No problem", said Sidney, "lets go see us a guy about a gadget".
Tally had wandered away from the group, wondering how the heck she was going to handle her new-found responsibilities. She stared at her feet, her hand playing around with the pendant.
"Congradulations".
Tally gave a squeak, being caught off guard, she turned to see Evan walk slowly out of the bushes. She smiled happily and ran over to him.
"Evan!", she said cheerfully, "i dinnae think ye would come. Sidney said something about ye....".
She trailed off as he came into the light, covered in spikes.
"Sindey wasn't kidding when she said ye had changed", she said softly.
"No, she wasn't", muttered Evan, looking at the ground.
"I still cannae see why ye left here though", said Tally, "it's not that bad".
"Tally, i'm a walking pin-cusion", said Evan, then sighed, "i just...don't belong with them anymore...i don't think i ever did".
Tally gave a solem nod, a rustle made them turn their head as Caliban waved at Evan.
"Are they treating you alright down there?" asked Tally.
"Who, the Morlocks?", said Evan, "yeah they're like...family..look i gotta go. If the others find me, they'll try to convince me to go back. And i'm not ready yet".
"I understand", said Tally, "look after yeself Evan".
With that, she gave him a peck on the cheek before disapearing back towards the house. Evan sighed, touching his cheek before heading towards Caliban.
"Who was the mutant?", hissed Caliban, "someone you knew?".
"Yeah", said Evan, "i knew her a while back...she won't tell anyone. Nothing to worry about".
Caliban gave a nod, removing a manhole cover and disapearing down it. Evan galnced around, looking at the spot Tally had left from for a second before ducking down it and disapearing himself. He pulled the cover back over the hole and it was as if he and Caliban hadn't been there at all.
*****
You like? Please do review..even if you don't like it. Until next time....
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "I'd rather live upside-down in a toilet bowl".
***
Thanks again to my reviewers. I appologise for suggesting that the last chapter ended on a cliffhanger. I originally had ended that chap on a cliffhanger, but changed it at the last minute, not thinking to look at the ending piece. Yup, i do daft things like that...
***
Chapter 6 - Stepping down and standing up.
***
Lance had been staring at his cooking bacon for most of the morning, glancing up now and again as Sidney bustled around the house. Tally was due to arrive with Draco at any minute, and Sidney looked ready to puke with nervousness. Fred gave a sneeze as a bit of fur flittered around his face.
"Sidney, you're moulting", he pointed out, "i mean, there's only so much anti-histamines can do, so will ya calm down a bit?".
Sidney paused and glanced at Fred.
"Yeah..sorry Freddy", she said, distractedly, then went back to pacing, "i know she can do the job..i just hope the others take it well. Normally no one steps down unless they are dying".
Wanda walked sleepily into the kitchen, Ebony on her shoulder. She slumped down at the table.
"Good morning Wanda", said Lance..already knowning her response.
"Ugh".
Wanda was not a morning person. Lance chuckled and pushed a coffie mug over to her, which she started at for a bit before drinking it. Ebony hopped off her shoulder and mewed at Sidney.
"No, i am perfectly calm", said Sidney, "i am the model of calmness. Look, this is me, being calm".
Ebony gave another meow. Sidney looked at her shaking hands.
"Okay, so i'm a little nervous", she said.
"Mew".
"Oh, what do you know?!".
Todd hopped into the room with a cheerful smile.
"Good morning everyone", he said, Todd, unlike most of his house-mates, was a morning person, something that irritated the non-morning people no end.
"Ugh", replied Wanda.
Todd laughed giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Awww, cheer up my Crimson Cutie", he said.
Lance blinked and eye towards Sidney, who flinched slightly but said nothing or showed any other sign of discomfort. Ebony on the other hand gave her an accusing growl, which Sidney silenced with a growl of her own. Ebony did a cat-version of a sneer and stalked away to his food bowl, looking at it and giving a meow.
"He says it's empty", translated Sidney.
"Oh, sorry Ebony", said Wanda, getting up and putting some cat-chow in the bowl, Ebony looked at it, then at Sidney. He mewed again.
"What now?", said Lance irritated as he took out his bacon from under the grill.
"He says he'll have what Lance is having", said Sidney with a chuckle.
Lance looked at Ebony.
"You are NOT having my bacon!", he said, "you're a cat, you eat cat-chow!".
Ebony gave a short sharp meow, before washing his paw. Lance looked up at Sidney.
"What did he just call me?".
"You...don't wanna know", said Sidney with a chuckle, "belive me on that one".
Lance crossed his arms and muttered under his breath, fighting away Fred, Wanda and Todd as they attempted to take his bacon. He smiled, finally sticking a fork into a piece and bringing it to his mouth It was at that moment a gust of wind sweapt through the house, and Lance found himself staring at an empty fork.
"PIETRO!", he snarled, "give me back my breakfast!".
The gust of wind stopped, forming itself as Pietro, who swallowed.
"Too late, it's gone", he said cheerfully, then yelped as the house began to shake.
"Knock it off!", snapped Wanda, "you're fighting over a piece of bacon for crying out loud!".
"Yeah Lance, it's only food", said Pietro, before holding up his hand, "before you say anything Freddy, yes i know food is important, but not right now. I've got neeeeeewwws".
"What, Summers finally remove the stick that's up his...", started Lance, only to be swatted on the head by Sidney.
"Nope", said Pietro smugly, "Tally and Draco are on their way over. Saw them on my morning run".
"Really?", said Sidney, perking up, "then i'd better get ready".
*******
A few hours later found Tally stood in front of Sidney outside the Brotherhood house. Draco stood close by, as the Brotherhood and a few of the X-Men watched with intrest. Sidney smiled at a very nervous Tally before clearing her throat.
"I, Sidney Cagney from this day forward do step down as Matriach of Avalon", she said.
She reached around her neck, taking of the pendant that had been there for what seemed like an eternity. She looked at it before placing it over Tally's head, letting it drop around the Scottish girl's neck.
"So, as my final act of duty, i appoint Tally McGregor as the new Matriach, may she lead them well".
She glanced at the others, watching intently.
"We're done now", she said.
Everyone gave the blushing Tally a cheer and applause. Sidney gave her a smile.
"I hope i'm up for the job", said Tally.
"I KNOW you are", said Sidney, giving her a pat on the shoulder, "you'll do a better job than i did, i can tell you that".
Tally nodded, glancing over as Draco gave her a bow. She blinked, realising something.
"Och aye, she'd have killed me if i forgot", she said to herself, running over to her backpack and rummaging around in it, pulling out a letter, and a dried white heather.
She walked over to where the X-Men were standing, glancing at the New Recruits.
"Okay", she said, "i havenae a clue who you lot are, so ye will have te help me oout here. Which one of ye's Sam Guthrie?".
Sam blinked, putting up a hand, loooking more than a little confused.
"Uhh...a'h am?", he tried.
"Good", said Tally, handing him the letter and heather, "these are for ye".
Sam looked at them confused, then looked at Sidney who chuckled.
"Oh yeah", she said, "i forgot about that. See you're a better leader than me already Tally".
Sam's confusion spread even more.
"They're from Rahne", said Tally with a smile, "she dunnae live with us, but she pops aroound te se us from time te time. As soon as she found oout i was coming over here, she wanted me te send ye these. The heather's a good luck charm....she misses ye".
"Oh", said Sam, turning an interesting shade of pink, before muttering quietly, "a'h miss her too".
"Aye, i guessed", said Tally, "i'll tell her for ye. Right i'm gunnae stretch me legs an' think aboout mae new responsibilites before we go home, okay, Draco?".
"Of course, m'lady", said Draco, watching Tally walk off.
Sidney meanwhile grinned at Rogue.
"You ready?", she said.
Rogue nodded.
"A'h guess", she said, "Kitty an' Bobby are coming with you me an' Kurt".
"No problem", said Sidney, "lets go see us a guy about a gadget".
Tally had wandered away from the group, wondering how the heck she was going to handle her new-found responsibilities. She stared at her feet, her hand playing around with the pendant.
"Congradulations".
Tally gave a squeak, being caught off guard, she turned to see Evan walk slowly out of the bushes. She smiled happily and ran over to him.
"Evan!", she said cheerfully, "i dinnae think ye would come. Sidney said something about ye....".
She trailed off as he came into the light, covered in spikes.
"Sindey wasn't kidding when she said ye had changed", she said softly.
"No, she wasn't", muttered Evan, looking at the ground.
"I still cannae see why ye left here though", said Tally, "it's not that bad".
"Tally, i'm a walking pin-cusion", said Evan, then sighed, "i just...don't belong with them anymore...i don't think i ever did".
Tally gave a solem nod, a rustle made them turn their head as Caliban waved at Evan.
"Are they treating you alright down there?" asked Tally.
"Who, the Morlocks?", said Evan, "yeah they're like...family..look i gotta go. If the others find me, they'll try to convince me to go back. And i'm not ready yet".
"I understand", said Tally, "look after yeself Evan".
With that, she gave him a peck on the cheek before disapearing back towards the house. Evan sighed, touching his cheek before heading towards Caliban.
"Who was the mutant?", hissed Caliban, "someone you knew?".
"Yeah", said Evan, "i knew her a while back...she won't tell anyone. Nothing to worry about".
Caliban gave a nod, removing a manhole cover and disapearing down it. Evan galnced around, looking at the spot Tally had left from for a second before ducking down it and disapearing himself. He pulled the cover back over the hole and it was as if he and Caliban hadn't been there at all.
*****
You like? Please do review..even if you don't like it. Until next time....